Soviet troops stayed in Eastern Germany as an occupation force after conquering Berlin at the end of World War II.

Russia has chosen to focus remembrance on the conquest of Hitler, drawing a veil over its troops' role in maintaining the division of Germany and Berlin for more than four decades.

Mr. Yeltsin drew applause from the Germans on the square with an impromptu speech in which he said Hitler's attack in 1941 had forced Russia to defend itself, but added: ``The German people are not to blame and we will never hold this against them.''

He said the Soviet Army helped keep the postwar peace in Europe, but added: ``I am sure that after today's final reconciliation, our relations can acquire a new quality.... We are in a position to make our neighborly relations warmer and more human.''